RlIAMNALES.J 



AQUILARIACE.E. 



579 



Order CCXX. AQUILARIACEiE.— Aquilariads. 



Aquilarineae, R. Brown Couq. p. 25. (1818) ; DC. Prodr. 2. 59 ; Roi/le Illustr. 171; Endl. Gun. ex. ; Meisno- 

 Gen. p. 73 ; Decaisne Ann. Sc. xix. 35. 



Diagnosis. — Rhamnal Exogens, with apefalous flowers^ an ovai'y composed of 2 caipels, a 

 tubular calyx with a definite number of divisions, and amygdaloid cotyledons. 



Trees. Branches smooth, with a tough bark. Leaves alternate or opposite, on 

 short stalks, entu'e, without stipules. Calyx turbinate or tubular ; limb 4- or 5-cleft ; 

 segments spreading, persistent, with an imbricated aestiva- 

 tion ; the orifice usually furnished with scales (sterile sta- 

 mens). Stamens 10, 8, or 5, in the latter case opposite the 

 segments of the calyx ; filaments inserted into the orifice of 

 the calyx a little lower down than the scales. Anthers nar- 

 row, oblong, attached by then- back below the middle, 2- 

 celled, openmg internally and length%\ase. Ovary superior, 

 sessile or stipitate, dowaiy, compressed, 2-celled ; o\Tiles two, 

 anatropal, of which one is suspended from each side of the 

 placenta, tapering downwards ; style 0, or conical and thread- 

 shaped ; stigma large, simple. Capsule sessile or stipitate, 

 2-valved or drupaceous, and indehiscent. Seeds one on each 

 placenta, or one sometimes abortive, pendulous ; albumen ; 

 cotyledons thick, fleshy, hemispherical; radicle straight, 

 superior. 



De Candolle places this Order between Chail- 

 letiads and Anacards, but with indications of 

 doubt, and an erroneous character ; and Brown 

 seems willing to consider the Order a section of 

 Chailletiads, adding, that it would not be diffi- 

 cult to show its affinity to Daplinads. In this 

 I fully concm' ; in fact, Aquilariads chiefly 

 differ from Daplmads in theu* dehiscent fruit, 

 composed of two carpels, not one. Both Orders 

 have similar scale-like bodies at the orifice 

 of the calyx, and no petals, both suspended 

 ovules, a smgle style, and capitate stigma. 

 Tliis too is the view taken of then* affinities by 

 M, Decaisne, who indeed regards them as a 

 mere section of Daplmads, observing that they 

 really differ in notliing except their 2-celled 

 ovary. I would, however, prefer leaving them 

 here, as the group which, in the Rhamnal Al- 

 liance, touches the Daphnal. 



The species are confined to the tropical parts 

 of Asia. Fig. CCCXCII. 



Aloes-wood, Agila-wood, or Eagle-wood, con- 

 taining a fragi'ant resinous substance, of a dark colom*, is the inside of the trunk of the 

 Aquilaria ovata and A. Agallochima. It is considered a cordial by some Asiatic nations, 

 and has been prescribed in Europe in gout and rheumatism. For a valuable accomit 

 of this substance, see Royle, as above quoted. 



GENERA. 



Aquilaria, Lam. I Gyrinopsis, Gcertn. I Phaleria, Jack, 



? Ophiospermum, Lour. Drimyspennum, Rndt. Pseudais, Decaisne. 



Numbers. Gen. 6. Sp. 10. 



I Gyrinopsis, Decaisne. 



Position. — Pensecese. — Aquilariace^. — ChaUletiaceae. 

 ThymelacecE. 



Fig. CCCXCII.— Aquilaria Agallochum. 1. a flower ; 2. the same split open ; 3. a section of the ovarj-. 



r p 2 



